Playhouse



April 1.9,' 1938..` s. E.v MERRIMAN PLAYHOUSE Filed Aug. 26, 1955 d' W/M ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 19, 1938 STATES PATENT G'FFIQE.

4 Claims.

This invention relates to play house structures and has for its primary obj'ect, the provision of a case wherein are formed compartments or the like that may be transformed into rooms of various natures and particular types by positioning in said compartments, structural units of unique and novel formation and panels of various characters, all to the end that the child may employ the case and a various number of structural units and panels in the creation of an endless number of miniature rooms, all having different form and appearance.

One of the important aims of the instant invention is the provision of a play house of the aforementioned character, having as a part thereof, one or more structural units removably secured in the case, such unit having at least one miniature article of furniture integral therewith and movable to and from a position housed within the unit as it is supported thereby.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a play house structure having a case wherein are formed specially built compartments that may have the walls thereof altered to simulate rooms of a particular type or nature by positioning against such walls` uniquely formed panels, having on one side thereof means representative of miniature structural elements of a room, such for example, as windows, shelves, mantels, or other decorative articles, such as mirrors, that are usually hung upon the walls of a room.

A yet further and important aim of this invention is the provision of structural units for play houses, having as a part thereof, or asso- L ciated therewith, means for securing the same in position within the compartments of a case, whereby the same are held in place as the article of furniture carried thereby is moved to and from a collapsed position.

lo A large number of important objects will appear during the course of the following specification, referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a play house made to embody the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical, cross section through the same, taken on line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, front elevation of the play house, showing the same equipped with another type of structural unit.

Fig. 4 is a vertical, cross section through a portion of the play house, taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detailed view illustrating the means for securing the structural unit in place within the case.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on vline VI-VI of Fig. 5, and,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, detailed, fragmentary, 5 perspective view of one of the removable panels.

This invention contemplates the use of a specially formed case, wherein may be created a large number of room effects and it has been found practical to so construct the case as to provide one with an open front, and having as a part thereof, a bottom I0, top I2, side walls I4 and a rear Wall I6. A transverse partition I8 should be used in order to divide case 8 into what the user would term upper and lower floors or an upstairs and downstairs.

It is understood, however, that the case may bevmade with but a single floor without departing in any manner from the spirit of the invention. As a matter of fact, the upper compartment may be again divided transversely by a partition, not here illustrated, which is moved into the transverse slots 22 provided for the purpose. Lower compartment 24 is preferably left undivided, Ywith the exception of that division which occurs upon placement of the structural unit later described.

Bottom IU, top I2 and transverse partition I8 have grooves 24', 26 and 28 and 30 formed therein along the edges thereof adjacent to side walls I4 and rear wall I6. The width of these grooves extending along the lower sides of top I2 and partition I8 adjacent rear wall IE is somewhat greater than the width of the other grooves mentioned because of the manner in which the hereinafter described panels may be moved to and from position.

Panels are used for the purpose of converting the bare interior surfaces of the walls of the case 8 into walls simulating those of a room. L0 Panels 32 may be slid into opposed grooves 26 and 28, as illustrated in Fig. ll, and the same panels may be moved into opposed grooves 26 and 28 as shown in Fig. 2, and secured there by detents 34 in the form of members that are pivotally mounted upon one side of the panel near one edge thereof, and which may have oneend projected into the upper groove after the lower edge of panel 32 has been dropped into one of the grooves, as illustrated.

Each of these panels 32 is adapted to have on one side thereof, means for representing in miniature, a structural element of a room. As an example, panel 32 shown in Fig. 7 has a mantel 36 carried thereby which, when positioned as shown in Fig. l, will simulate a re place.

The many forms of structural units which may be combined with the case in creating a particular type of room therein are exemplified by units 33, 40, and 62. Each of these units is removably secured to the structure against displacement and the means for securement may be in the form of a cam 44 pivotally secured as at G6 to the structural unit, so that when the said unit is moved to position Within either the compartment 2) or 24 of case 8 movement of the cam will cause its face to bear against the floor of that particular compartment so that the entire structural unit is lifted tightly against the under surface of the top of that compartment.

When so positioned, mini-ature articles of furniture i6 and 48 that are associated with unit 3S, bench 56 which is associated with unit 40, and double deck bed 52 which is associated with unit 52, may be moved to and from a position housed within the associated units without displacement of the latter. In the case of unit 38, the miniature bed 46 slides between members 54, rv ile table i9 moves in along the top of upper member 55%. Manifestly, each of the units contemplated and illustrated has a compartment formed therein and the unit itself forms a part ci the walls of the room which is being created within compartment 2@ or 26, as the case may be.

As an example of the unique type of unit which may be employed, reference should be had to unit M! which carries the bench 50 and which has a series of steps 56 indicating that a stairway to a second floor in the play house is pres- Various means may be provided on the outer surfaces of the walls of these removable structural units to further assist in creating a room in the play house of desired characteristics. Unit 38, for example, has a picture 58 thereon w-,-i gives the impression that a window is present and the scene of the picture is being viewed through this window. Unit 4B has a mantel Sil integral therewith as shown in Figs. i and 2.

Unit d2 is of a unique nature in that its walls are faced with mirrors G2 and a doorway Gli with swinging doors 65 gives access to `a subcornpartment in the form of a miniature dressing room having a dressing table or the like $8 therein. The double deck bed 52 which slides to and from the collapsed condition within unit 42 has a stop ill thereon which precludes pulling away of bed Members l2 built into unit 42 slidably support the parts of bed 52.

After the desired removable unit has been positioned within the compartment of case 8 and the particular type of panels 32 placed as described, appropriate additional and separate articles of furnishing may be placed in the room created and an exceptionally desirable play house is thereby provided for the amusement and enjoyment of the child.

The term structural unit as used herein and as exemplified by units 38, 5U and 42, means those einovable parts of the play house assembly which set off compartments therein, and being with or without miniature articles oi furniture secured thereto.

Structural units as contemplated by this invention, are distinguished from panels or mere partitions by having at least two walls in connection, and extending at angles to each other, so that the structural unit may stand alone in the case. Displacement is precluded through the means hereinbeiore set down.

From the foregoing it will be observed that a large number of possibilities with respect to nature and type of room are at hand and while certain specic structural embodiments have been illustrated and described, it is clear to one skilled in the art that many changes and modifications might be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A play house comprising an open-front case; a structural unit within the case movable through the open front thereof to and from a certain position therein; means for removably securing the said structural unit against displacement; and at least one miniature article of furniture secured to the said unit, said article of furniture being collapsible into a position where it is housed wthin the said structural unit.

2. A play house comprising an open-front case; a structural unit within the case; and means for removably securing the said structural unit against displacement, said structural unit having walls forming a relatively small room therein, one of said Walls having a doorway whereby to place in communication the interior of thc case and the relatively small room.

3. A play house comprising an open-front case having spaced-apart top and bottom; a structural unit within the case between the said top and bottom; at least one miniature article of furniture carried by the said unit and collapsible into a position Where it is housed within the said structural unit; and means for removably securing the said structural unit against displacement comprising means on the unit for engaging the bottom of the case and forcing the said unit into tight engagement with the top of the case.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a structural unit for play houses comprising walls setting off a compartment within the unit; and a miniature article of furniture carried by the said unit, said article of furniture being movable to and from position where it is housed within the said compartment as it is supported by the said unit.

SARA ELIZABETH MERRIMAN. 

